Multipurpose gas meter change valve

ABSTRACT

A device to be used when it is desired periodically to change gas meters for inspection (as is required by most State laws) or gas pressure regulators without causing any interruption of the flow of gas to the customer. While the meter and regulator are being changed, a pair of the devices of the inveniton are connected, one into the semi high pressure line, and the other into the low pressure customer&#39;&#39;s house piping. The device may also be used by gas service companies etc. as a means for shutting off meters during vacancies of apartments or houses.

United States Patent 1191 Bales Aug. 28, 1973 MULTIPURPOSE GAS METER CHANGE 3,260,278 7/1966 Lund 6161. l37/454.5 x

VALVE Phoenix, Ariz.

221 Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 172,011

52 US. Cl. 137/608 [51 11.1. C1. F1711 1/00 581 M 61 Search 137/608, 612.1, 454.5

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,240,230 3/1966 Callahan, Jr. et a1 137/608 3,348,570 10/1967 Nealy.....- l37/454.6X 3,280,834 10/1966 Zahuranec 137/6121 2,288,913 7/1942 Moecker, Jr. et al. 138/45 X 2,871,881 2/1959 Hewson 137/608'X 2,980,132 4/1961 Prijatel et al. 137/454.5 X

Inventor: John K. Bales, 1814 N. 52 St.,

iinnnnnnnnn!ususnsusnsgggnnnn 5 f 3,298,396 1/ 1967' Gressman et al. 137/608 X v Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attomey-A. John Michel ABSTRACT A device to be used when it is desired periodically to change gas meters for inspection (as i'srequired by most State laws) or gas pressure regulators without causing any interruption of the flow of gas to the customer. While the meter and regulator are being I changed, a'pair of the devices of the inveniton are connected, one into the semi high pressure line, and the other into the low pressure customers house piping. The device may also be used by gas service companies etc. as a means for shutting off meters during vacancies of apartments or houses. 1

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAUG28I9?3 3,754,573

sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN K. BALES ,l ;;MULTIPURPOSE GAS: METER"CHANGEVALVE ,This invention relates to methodsand newand useful valves, and more particularly to suchdeviceswhich. are

adapted to facilitate and simplify the cchangesaof gas 3 meters and; similar devices.

improvements vin multipurpose @gas .meter change It. is;,an, object of thepi'esent invention; to;provide.a method ofand means forenablingthe changing or replacing of a gasmeter, or; the. like without interrupting thegassupply to the user.

3 It is another object of this inventionpto provide instrumentalitiesadapted to eliminate-the, conventional; purging of airifrom-g house lines -andathe consequent: relightdevices and suggestions ;have proved satisfactory because of the danger of transporting :bottled gas Another advantage of this invention is tthat :the gas serviceman.merely'hastocarry withhima smallkitand h s m .hishpre su e regulat r when itistneeessary to effect the periodical routine tmeter .change of all .gas met s zrfor mete s Qpt s ng- Still another advantage ,of this invention resides in thatit eliminates many of the Stfl dard pipefittingsnectapped centrally and adapted to receive 'pipe nipple 48 and airhose connector 50;-the fourthend of the fourway casting 40 is adapted to receive a handle'member i 52-which is operativelyconnected, via set screw54, to

a threaded central rod member 56. r v

The hollow interior of casting-40 defines a gas chamber.66 which com'municates'with the three 'pipesconnected tofithe threej projections or'ends of me'mber'40. Member 60. is provided with an aperture'*65 eiitending into gas chamber66 surrounding member 60. That-part of theinner-cylindrical surface of core m'e'mber'60 .which extends fromits' left extremity substantiallyto ing ofgas applianceipilotsglieretofore; there have been many suggestions and rdevices: to perform :this service, some, of them, involving; the. use; of trucksacarryingtbottled gas under high pressure. However, L none {of-these essary to prepare ithe lmeter ;loop for the installation of v a new .nieter. Thi invention is designed with many built-in features and is permanently located in the meter gloop at locations to :best serve this purpose as it is a permanent part of the .loop.

The above and other objects and advantages .of this invention may be more readily understood from the following description thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

7 FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gas meter installallQ with the usual accessories;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. I with a part of the meter change kit;

FIG. 3 shows a typical embodiment of the invention partly broken away to expose a fragmentary longitudinal section of the major components thereof;

.4 is a schematic section of a detail view of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing: FlG. l depicts a gas meter 10 to be replaced by the methodpf this invention. The meter 10 is shown connected to a standard house appliance regulator 12, the purpose of which is to reduce t e pressure of the gas main 14 to a safe pressure. Members and 40' represent two substanti illy identical valves of this invention to he described herein.

' As shown in the drawing: and more particularly in FIG. 3, the invention provides a hollow four-way metal casting d0 (FIGS. 2 and 3,), which is threaded at its four ends. Threadedly connectable to three ends of member 40 are: first, pipe 42 (FIG. 2) which is identical with or may serve to establish a connection to the main high pressure gas service line 14; secondly, threaded pipe nipple. 44 WhiGh is connectable at its right hand end with the input line to gas meter 10 and/or the gas regulator 12 and on its left hand end with cylindrical core member 60; thirdly, pipe reducer bushing 46 which is the aperture '65' therein, is provided-with screw threads meshing with the threads of rod 56.

Thus,the threaded rod 56 is axially movable along its longitudinal axis "within the screw threads '67 or core -member'tfll-byhandle 52 which is secured toro d56 by .holt 54, and mellow of gas through orifice65,'thetubing 44,iand ,gasmeter 10 can be' quickly tum'ed'o'n or rofi'%by:meansiof turning vlalve handle 52 a'quar'ter'of a turn.

.On the left, orhandle side end, rod "56'is'surrounded byagas tig'ht rubber washer 27 which is adapted to=be engaging the left end' of core member 60; on its right :hand-end,threaded:rod '56 is heldin place in core member .60 by nuts 62 which are designed, in cooperation avithmetal washer 71', gas tight rubber washer 73, stem 56and3handle 52,10 control the flow of gas from chamber 66 through the pipe nipple 44.

The Fleft-hancl end of four-way casting 40 is provided with a stop member64 adapted to limit the rotary manual motion of gas supply or control handle 52.

Threaded pipe nipple 44 is threaded internally atthe left end thereof so that it threadedly fits over the hollow core member 60.

Gas hose or tube 50 does not form a permanent integral part of this invention, but is used temporarily 'at the time of the meterchange.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Assume that a gas meter such as meter 10 in the drawing is to be removed from a service line including main gas line 14, consumer line 15, and two of the devicesof this invention shown at 40 and 40'. Normally, the pressure regulator 12 will also be connected in the small head plug 47 (FIG. 4) from gas valve element 46 (element 46 is welded permanently into the body of valve housing 40). During this operation, escape, of high pressure gas from the line 14 into the atmosphere" is avoided by small rubber ball (check valve) 57 being held by the gas pressure against the opening in'rubber valve seat washer 154. Next, the operator inserts plunger element 53 (FIG. 4) and holds the plunger in place temporarily by tubular hosing 48. An internal gas pressure ofsay 30 lb. pressure p.s.i. keeps rubber check valve 57 closed against its seat 154. Now. the transient or temporary pressure regulator I2 is inserted inthe line as shown by means of adapter 75. Permanently installed regulator 12 normally reduces the high pressure from the main line 14 to a desired lower pressure, whereas regulator 12 is needed to reduce the gas pres sure only at the time of the meter change. Low pressure gas enters service hose 72 and thence to connector valve 74 which is closed. Connector valve 74 is then connected to the customer's side of the meter IO'L 'As stated above, valves 40 and 40 of this invention form a permanent part of the consumer's installation.

With all the above components connected in place, the serviceman closes valve 40 and 40' and is now ready to disconnect meter without any gas escaping into the atmosphere. The replacement meter may now be installed without causing any interruption of the flow of gas to the customer.

Substantially the same procedure may be used for replacing line regulator 12 whenever such an operation becomes desirable.

it will be understood that components including fitting 50, regulator 12, rubber hose 72 and shut-off valve fitting 74 are all readily removable from the gas conduit system, and that they will be removed after each installation or meter change. However, the valves 40 and 40' remain in the line as permanent parts of the consumers installation.

It will also be understood that the two gas valves of this invention, i.e., valves 40 and 40', when used in performing the quick meter change, are identical in looks and design. The only requirement is that the one-fourth 7 inch Buna-A rubber ball 57 which in valve 40 acts as a check valve to control semi high pressure gas of say 15 to 50 pounds per square inch pressure, be removed from the valve 40 when this valve is used on the low pressure or customer side of meter 10.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size, components and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for permitting the changing of gas meters and gas appliance regulators without interrupting the flow of gas in a consumer gas line;

said device comprising, in combination, a four-way tubular casting forming an outer hollow housing and an inner flow chamber for gas;

said four-way housing having four threaded terminal connections for interconnection in said gas line and for the controlled by-passing or shunting of the flow of gas from said meter when said meter is disconnected;

tubular means inside said housing flow chamber; said tubular means being threaded over substantial portions of its inner and outer cylindrical surfaces and having an aperture in its wall; said aperture communicating with said gas chamber;

a threaded actuator rod movable axially in the inner screw threads of said tubular means; said rod carrying gas tight washers at both extremities and being adapted to define and open and close a passage way for gas at one of its extremities; and manual means mounted at the other end of said actuator rod for controlling the flow of said gas to said customer appliance. 

1. A device for permitting the changing of gas meters and gas appliance regulators without interrupting the flow of gas in a consumer gas line; said device comprising, in combination, a four-way tubular casting forming an outer hollow housing and an inner flow chamber for gas; said four-way housing having four threaded terminal connections for interconnection in said gas line and for the controlled bypassing or shunting of the flow of gas from said meter when said meter is disconnected; tubular means inside said housing flow chamber; said tubular means being threaded over substantial portions of its inner and outer cylindrical surfaces and having an aperture in its wall; said aperture communicating with said gas chamber; a threaded actuator rod movable axially in the inner screw threads of said tubular means; said rod carrying gas tight washers at both extremities and being adapted to define and open and close a passage way for gas at one of its extremities; and manual means mounted at the other end of said actuator rod for controlling the flow of said gas to said customer appliance. 